Warning: This article contains details of child abuse that some readers may find upsetting
Ruby Franke's estranged husband has filed a lawsuit against her former business partner Jodi Hildebrandt, who was convicted alongside his wife for aggravated child abuse last year.
Franke was arrested in August alongside business partner Hildebrandt, after one of Franke's young children turned up at a neighbor's house malnourished, visibly injured and with 'tape around his legs'.
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After the upsetting discovery, police searched Hildebrandt's home and found another of Franke's children, a 10-year-old girl, in a similar malnourished condition.
The two children were subsequently taken to hospital.
Though the children were found at Hildebrandt's home, Franke - a mother of six - had been seen at the house in a YouTube video posted just two days earlier on her then-popular channel, 8 Passengers.
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She indicated that she had knowledge of the neglect.
A month later, Franke was charged with six counts of felony child abuse, later pleading guilty to all charges in an Utah court.
Both Franke and Hildebrandt have since been sentenced to serve four terms of one to 15 years each, BBC News reports.
The sentences will run consecutively and are the maximum count under Utah law, essentially meaning they could both spend a maximum of 60 years in prison.
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Since then, Kevin Franke, the estranged husband of Franke, has filed a lawsuit against Hildebrandt.
Kevin filed the suit against Hildebrandt, citing 'intentional infliction of emotional distress', 'negligent infliction of emotional distress' and 'negligence' for him and his children.
As per court documents obtained by KUTV, Kevin claimed that his estranged wife moved their four children into Hildebrandt’s home in Ivins, Utah, without 'advising' him.
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Kevin went on to claim that two of his children were confined in the basement of the home and not allowed to leave without Franke or Hildebrandt’s permission.
If they did, they were apparently threatened of 'going to jail' or 'increased punishment'.
The filing states that one child was 'forced to do physical tasks for hours and days at a time', including 'wall sits' and doing outside labor 'without shoes'.
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Kevin also claimed that one child was 'denied adequate water' when he was left out in the sun, while also being 'denied sufficient food'.
All came to halt in August 2023, as the child escaped the home and fled to a neighbor’s home, subsequently asking him to call the police.
First responders were called to Hildebrandt’s home and she was arrested.
Speaking to PEOPLE of the lawsuit, Randy Kester, Kevin Franke’s attorney, said: "We filed suit against Jodi Hildebrandt. Couldn't file for the kids yet because the State still has their legal custody, but filed in an effort to preserve Hildebrandt's wealth and assets until appropriate action can be taken to make the kids whole."
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UNILAD has reached out to Kevin's and Franke's attorney for comment, while also reaching out to Hildebrandt via her official website.
Callum Jones